Plans to offer a VW MK IV LCD faceplate - everyone please read.

**R32 JUhl** · 03-10-2005, 02:46 PM

Originally Posted by mbuchman

Is he doing any measurements off of the part, or just off of the drawing? If its off of the drawing, send it over to me, and I can send you back a part.

He's got all the parts: Lilli, radio bucket, radio, Mapower enclosure. So he's thinking he's going to have to double check all my measurements.

Originally Posted by mbuchman

20 hours seems like a long time. I assume he just said that to see how serious you are about this, cause little projects are not very profitable.

I agree!

Originally Posted by mbuchman

It still seems kind of odd to me that each individual part could be manufactured for under 100, especially being aluminum is kind of expensive..

The material is less than $5 per faceplate.

Originally Posted by mbuchman

I guess I dont know enough about the market to really give a good guess though at what the price should be. doesnt the machining have to be done on the top and bottom too? cause I know that adds a lot to the cost per unit. But if you can actually pull it off for under 100 a unit, then thats pretty impressive.

We'll see what happens. Right now, we're at $200 unit, so we've got a LONG way to go!

**integramodder** · 03-10-2005, 09:37 PM

I havent used AutoCAD in a few years. I use Autodesk Inventor, its another 3D modeler made by the same guys that make AutoCAD. If you want me to make the drawings, scan me your drawings and I'll make them...I'd show you the stuff I've made but im not at my computer.

let me know...

**mbuchman** · 03-11-2005, 02:11 AM

Originally Posted by integramodder

I havent used AutoCAD in a few years. I use Autodesk Inventor, its another 3D modeler made by the same guys that make AutoCAD. If you want me to make the drawings, scan me your drawings and I'll make them...I'd show you the stuff I've made but im not at my computer.

let me know...

I use both in tag-team action

. I have heard solidworks is MUCH better than inventor though (havnt used it yet myself), so if you can get a hold of a copy, might wanna...

I only use AutoCAD and Inventor for recreational purposes though.

The only thing is, even with the CAD file, it would still need to be imported into MasterCAM or something in order to make the NC file for the CNC machines, and that was probably included in the "20 hour engineering time."

I wonder if you would be better off to just try to make a mold of it, and make them out of plastic pellets. It would be much cheaper to produce then (you could do it yourself), and then you wouldnt have to call up the shop every time you want a new one ran off. Still would need the shop to make the mold, but might work out better. I dont know though, never dealt with plastics.

Course, I doubt that the faceplate you are making would fit a Lincoln, so it doesnt really bother me if this works out or not

. I just think you have a good idea, so I would be willing to help out, but it looks like their isnt much I could help with.

Matt

**Squid** · 03-11-2005, 02:39 AM

Depending on the complexity of your faceplate, 20 hours can be eaten up quickly
on double checking your measurments and doing new cad files. Plus he then has to
create the cnc code and then proof the code slowly so he doesn't severly crash his machine.

Having said that... I'm a Mechanical Engineer.. and I use Pro/Engineer... 3D modeling...
I also do all the finite element analysis (FEA) to verify the strength of structures...

Having said that... lol... If you send me your drawings, I'll gladly model
them in 3D and verify that they can be machined at as low as cost as possible.
And I don't think you'll need any FEA done ...heh...

Not knowing the actual size of the said pieces you want machined, I have in my basement
a small CNC machine that will mill aluminum no problem. But from the few pics
I've seen in this thread, I think your main part exceeds my Y travel.

I use Mastercam to design all my toolpaths... which will let you output ur G-code
to most mills... if your machine shop guy's mill supports it... (some cnc's are programmed
thru "conversational" methods.. just entering at machine)... I could provide those to you...

And no one's ever paid me $1800 to do a project for them.. so I wouldn't expect that now either!! lol

Anywho... just throwing that out there

**R32 JUhl** · 03-11-2005, 03:30 PM

Thanks to everyone for the offers! Inspired by them, I went to fetch my materials from the machinist. I figured he would have at least done SOMETHING, but instead, he had deleted my correspondence as junk e-mail!!! So on the way back, I took a chance on another machine shop who I discovered was eager to please. They have my crude drawings and are putting them into their system. They said they'd have a 3D concept ready in a week and with my approval (and wallet) would make a prototype. Their fees are in line with what I felt was "right" from the beginning.

So even with a week's delay, we're not too far off schedule.

They're even offering different finishes. Brushed aluminum is one possibility. But they also offer a teflon treatment that makes the aluminum practically the same black color as the MK IV dash the non-GLI/337/R32 owners have. Of course that adds to the cost, but it's VERY high quality, permanent and looks REALLY nice! The additional cost will be roughly $15-$20 per unit. But just like anything, the higher the volume, the lower the cost - anybody wanna place an order for 10?

**integramodder** · 03-11-2005, 04:35 PM

Too many ME's on this site....

At any rate, good job scouting out the shop, how much are they charging for their layout, modeling, programming, checking and so on?

If you get a chance, post up your crude drawings, Id like to see what its supposed to look like.

**R32 JUhl** · 03-11-2005, 04:48 PM

Originally Posted by integramodder

Too many ME's on this site...

Is it possible to have too much of a good thing?

Originally Posted by integramodder

At any rate, good job scouting out the shop, how much are they charging for their layout, modeling, programming, checking and so on?

Layout and modeling are gonna be about $100. Programming is $75/hr. Checking and so on is also $75/hr. which seems to be the going rate for the mechanical work around here.

Originally Posted by integramodder

If you get a chance, post up your crude drawings, Id like to see what its supposed to look like.

Check out my install (in my sig) and that's roughly what it will look like. They have the crude drawings. The only difference between my faceplate and the one I'm having made is I have a hole for the power button. I'll leave the aluminum plates undrilled in case the buyer doesn't want one or wants to use it for something smaller, etc. In fact, I'm HOPING to have something that functions similarly to a griffin powermate that can be used in that small area.

But that's a completely different topic.

**integramodder** · 03-11-2005, 06:09 PM

Originally Posted by R32 JUhl

Is it possible to have too much of a good thing?

Layout and modeling are gonna be about $100. Programming is $75/hr. Checking and so on is also $75/hr. which seems to be the going rate for the mechanical work around here.

Check out my install (in my sig) and that's roughly what it will look like. They have the crude drawings. The only difference between my faceplate and the one I'm having made is I have a hole for the power button. I'll leave the aluminum plates undrilled in case the buyer doesn't want one or wants to use it for something smaller, etc. In fact, I'm HOPING to have something that functions similarly to a griffin powermate that can be used in that small area.

But that's a completely different topic.

Too much of a good thing? A fine argument can be made both ways.

I guess that rate isnt too bad, although it could possibly be avoided if you asked them what kind of files they wanted and supplied those. Nonetheless, everybody like to do things their way, so it might cost you even more if the technician then has to figure out what your drawings mean.

I looked throught that thread and couldnt see too many drawings, its mostly the finished product.

**Squid** · 03-11-2005, 06:38 PM

I think there is too many ME's anymore.. it's why I can't find a new damn job lol....

Well my offer to help still stands... I'm always willing to jump aboard fun projects!

-Squid